HASTINGS APPOINTED GOVERNOR-GENERAL. 27& 



ging the officers not to accept a single present, and attach- 

 ing severe penalties to the violation of his order. The 

 irregular trade, however, he is said to have partially con- 

 nived at, with the view of favouring some personal friends, 

 till the repeated commands of the company left him no 

 choice but to perform his duty. 



Affairs remained nevertheless in extreme disorder ; and 

 the revenue, an object of such paramount interest, had in 

 no degree answered the expectations of the company. 

 Among the remedies adopted was that of sending out three 

 persons of distinction and experience, Mr. Vansittart, Colo- 

 nel Ford, and Mr. Scrafton, under the title of supervisors, 

 to inquire into the causes of these evils, and suggest a mode 

 of counteracting them. A singular fate befell these emi- 

 nent personages ; for neither they nor the vessel in which 

 they sailed were ever heard of. The measure was not re- 

 sumed ; and on the resolution being formed to appoint a 

 governor-general, Parliament nominated Mr. Hastings. The 

 choice was entirely approved by the proprietors. That gen- 

 tleman, in a succession of subordinate situations, had dis- 

 played splendid military talents, and acquired great expe- 

 rience in Indian affairs. When recently acting as second 

 in command at Madras, he had materially improved that set- 

 tlement ; and the happiest results were accordingly expected 

 from his elevation to the supreme government. 



The various transactions by which the administration of 

 Mr. Hastings was marked excited in Britain intense inter- 

 est, and gave rise, after his return, to some of the most 

 memorable proceedings in the records of parliament. This 

 ardent feeling has long since subsided ; the events to which 

 it related not having permanently affected either the extent 

 of the British power or its relation to the native states. A 

 very rapid outline of them will now satisfy the general 

 reader. 



The first measure, and perhaps that of the greatest im- 

 portance, was dictated by the government at home. Hith- 

 erto, though our countrymen were rulers of Bengal, the 

 judicial and financial details had been conducted by native 

 officers. These in their present dependent situation could 

 no longer command the necessary respect and submission. 

 The English residents too often set the example of insub- 

 ordination, and the country was reduced almost to a state 



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